Artificial limb



Sept. `9

` A. PECQRELLA ET Ax.

ARTIFICIALLIMB original Filed No 24.",1919 Sheets-sheet l aff/912A@ sept. 9, 1924. 1,507,683 A. PECORELLA ET AL ARTIFICIAL LIME' original Filed'Nov. 24, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 9 I 19,24.

A. PECQRELLA ET AL ARTIFI GIAL LIMB Sepm 9.1924.-

LSV/,683 A. PECORELLA ET AL.

ARTIFICIAL LIME Original Filed NOV- 24. 1919' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 wif r.. i), la .1

Patented Sept. 9, i924.

UNITED STATES PATENT i o Frio ALDER'Io PEcoRRLLA AND vINcEVNvT/PArRiooLo, or BUFFALO, AND FREDERICK H. APEL, on A'rHoL sraINes, Yon-K, Assrenons, BY ransNn AssIoNivInNrs,` ro LIVINGSTON ARTIFICIAL LIME COMPANY, ornent Yonai, N. Y., A CORPORATION;

or DELAWARE..

Substitute for abandoned application lSerial No. 340,330, iiled November 24, ,1.919.l Thisapplcationled ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

March 1S, 1924:.` Serial N0. 700,180, y

To all whom t may conoem:

Be it known that we, ALBERTO PRCORRLLA, 'a citizen of the United States, and resident of Buffalo, inthe county of Erie and State of New York, VINCENT FATRIcoLo, a subject ofthe King of Italy, and residing yat Bufl falo, in the county of Erie and State of New The object of this invention is to provide f an artificial hand having improved meansf for actuating the ngers, so that the same.

may be moved either in unison or individually and adapt themselves to the article `to be grasped, which means are so designed that thev lingers are locked against displacement byppressure against the fingers and thus render the fingers rigid in whatever position the same come to rest; to provide improved ineans for actuating the fingers by motion derived from a relative horizontal movement of the body and a shoulder of the person wearing the artificial limb; to provide improved means for turningt-he wrist about its longitudinal airis and also turning the palm laterally about a transverse axis relatively to the palm, and to improve the means for pivotally connecting theforearm and wrist.

This application is a substitute for, the abandoned application No.'340,330 filed Nov. 24, 1919.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of our improved artificial limby applied to the right varm of a person. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the saine. Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof. Figure 4. is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line i- 4, Fig. 3. Figure 5 is a detached sectional view of one of. thelinger actuating cams and yits drum showing the manner of attaching the operating lines thereto. Figure 6 is-a vertical longitudinal section of the artificial limb taken on line 6 6, Fig. VT. Figure 7 is an elevation, partly in section, ofthe artificial limb viewed from the palm side thereof.` Figure 8 is a view similar t@ Fig 6, 'but' showing the tilted transversely and thel adjusting device for thel same and the wrist Figure l is a horizontal sectionon Similarcharac't'ers 'of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

As vshown' in the drawings,four improvements are embodiedV in l an artificial limb having an arm section` l which is preferably of tubular form and adapted toy be secured to the stump of one arm, say the'stuinp 2 of the right arm, as shown in Figs. 1,72 and 3, inI any suitable or approved manner,` for instance, by means of` a socket or cuff 3l connected with lthe arm' section vand secured around the stumpv by lacing et, a forearm of the tubular lform which is pivot-ally connected at its lrear end by a horizontal pin 6 with thev front end ofthe arm section, so that the arm can beraised and'lowered,l a wrist 16 which vis pivotallyv connected at its rear end with the front end ofthe forearm so as to be capable of Aturning relatively thereto about a longitudinal aXis,`a palm 17` which is pivotally connected at its rear end with the front end of the wrist by a transverse pin 18 so as tobe .capable of turning laterallyrelatively to the palm, avplurality of'digits, the fingers of which consist each of a first section 19 pivotal'ly connected with thepalm'by apinl 20, asecond sectiony 21 pivotally yconnected with the first section'by a pin 22,- and a'third'section 23`-pivotally connected with the second section by a pin 2st, and a thumb comprising a first or inner section 25 pivoted on the-.palm by a-pin261 and a secondV or outer section 27 pivoted on the first section by a pin 28. All ofthese several members are preferably constructed of ho-llow or tubular form' inany suitable and approved manner so that part of the mechanism for operating the samefmaywbe locatedin the interior thereof. The cuff or f socket 3 is connected by means of strap hangers 7 with a saddle 8 onv thepshoulder of the respective stump and this saddleis held against displacement by means which comprise a horizontal retaining band or j so strap 9 passing under the pit of the left arm and along the back and chest of the body and connected at its opposite ends to the saddle in front and in rear of the body, and a. suspender l extending over the left shoulder and connected at its lower ends with the front and rear stretch of the retaining band 9.

inasmuch as the means for actuating the several lingers for folding or closing and unfolding or opening the same Yare alike the following description applying to one of them will apply to all of the several fingers.

The lirst finger section may be turned about the pin 2O either into its open or closed position, 29 represents a first lever of' elbow forni which is fulcrumed by a pin 3() on the second linger Section outwardly beyond tl e pivotal connection 23 and, which has its inner arm pivotally connected by a pin 3l with theouter front edge of the palm, while its inner arm is connected by a link 32- with a pin 33 arranged on the third finger section outwardly beyond the pin 24. This connection between the several linger sections and the palm causes the second and third linger sections to fold and unfold in unison with the first section for grasping and releasing an article or for other pur/l poses.

The several ngers radiate on different lines relatively to the palm so as to simulate the normal position of the fingers on a natural hand and in accomplishing this the innermost pivot of each finger is arranged on a different line from the corresponding pivots of the remaining fingers. In order to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of manufacture, the several pivot pins 2O are made to form sections of a single pivot rod which passes though the several first sections of the fingers and the adjacent parts of the palm and which is provided on its outer side between adjacent pivot sections with notches 20a, which permit` of bending the rod of which the several pivots 2G are made and bringing the same into the proper position for engagement with the openings in the several first linger sections and the palm.

Si represents a plurality of cams which are .mounted on a transverse pivot rod 35 carried by the palmv so that these cams are capable of turning freely on said rod independently of each other. The pivot rod 35 consists of a plurality of sections each of whichy is arranged. on a line different from the other sections so that each can be arranged properly relatively to the linger which it actuates. To do this in a simple and eflicient manner, the rod 35 is provided "on its front or outer side with a plurality of notches 35a each of which is arranged between two adjacent sections and permits of bending this rod so that the several sec tions engage properlyl with the respective openings in the cams and the ahn intended to receive the same. operatively associated with one of the lingers and is provided with a peripheral cam liange 36 projecting laterally from one side thereof while the opposite side of the cam is connected with a drum 37 having peripheral flanges 38 forming a groove on this drum. 39 represents a plurality of' links eachof which is pivotally connected .at its front end with the inner or rear section of one of the fingers at the inner side of the pivotal connection between this linger section and the palm. The inner or rear end ofeach link 39 is provided with a lateral notch 40 which receives the flange 38 of the respective cam so that upon turning the latter the link and the finger sections associated therewith will be operated for folding and unfolding the finger. guided toward and from the axis of its cam during the rotary movement of the latter by providing this link in line with its notch l() with a guide lug .4l which engages with a guideway or groove 42 formed on the adj acent part of the palm, as shown in Figs.` if? 7 and 9. l

Although the fingers may be opened and closed in any suitable manner the motion for accomplishing this is preferably derived from the uninjured shoulder and arm of the l person wearing the artificial limb and as shown in the drawings, these means are constructed as follows:

i3 represents a plurality of opening branch lines and lll a plurality of closing branch lines one of each of which forming a pair being connected with the drum ot one ofthe cams and passing circumferentially in opposite' directions around this drum so that upon pulling on the line 43, the respective linger will be opened or unfolded while upon pulling on the companion line 4l the linger will be closed or folded. The lines 43, le of each pair are preferably made of single piece of cord and. the same may be easily secured to the drumby passing that part of the cord on the drum through a pair of openings Llo in one of its flanges, thereby forming turn or loop 46 in this cord which eff/actually prevents disconnection of the opening and closing lines from the respective drum. opening and closing lines preferably first cross each other in front of the pivot pin 18 which connects the wrist and palm and then recross each other in rear of this pin and then pass from the interior of the wrist and forearm to the exterior thereof through Each o* these cams is f Each pair of:

The inner end of the link is incassa pin '18 isV -preferablyxcovered with ya roller 48 to prevent the lines fromv wearingf unduly while moving in contact there-with. The

several opening branch. lines are'connected line' 49 the several branches thereof will turn the cams outwardly and cause theseveral fingers to simultfaneousl-y'` unfold or open. The several closing branch lines 44 are preferably indirectly connected with a main or intermediate closing line. 5.1 byv an equalizing device which-upon pulling the line 5l causes the several fingers to `either* cl'ose simultaneously when no obstmictionv is encountered but which permits one or more of the `fingers when engaging an article to stop independently ofthe 'other fingers and thus enable the fingersto adapt themselves to the shape of the article while atfthe same time the fingers are loclingink lvwhatever position they come to rest by the action of the cams which prevent the fingers from being moved by anyexternal pressure appliedk thereto. This equalizing effect is preferably attained by connecting the rear ends of the branch closing lines 44 in pairs, so thateach pair forms a bight which is engaged by an equalizing roller 52. `The two rollers 52 engaging the two bights formed by the two pairs of branch closing lines leading to the four finger operating cams are in turn connected by an equalizing line 5 3 which is doubled upon itself to form a loop or bight and the latter is lengaged bya roller 54 which is connected with the lower end of the main closing' line 51. Upon pulling on the latter the relation of the same and the associated' equalizing' and branch lines is not disturbed so long as the fingers in their closing movement do not encounter any obstruction, thereby causing the fingers to fold uniformly. If, however, one or morefingers engage the article to begrasped ahead of the other lingers, then the bight of the branch lines between the finger which stops and the `companion finger which continues to close,

slides around the respective roller 52 and the bight of the equalizing line will in like manner slide around the roller 54e of the main pull line, This equalizes the pulling effect upon the several fingers without one interfering with the other at this time and ensures proper engagement' of the fingers with the article to be grasped regardless of any' irregularity in its shape. The main closing line 51 passes from the front sideof therarni upwardly tothe rear sideof the back and thence over a guide roller or wheel 55 mounted, on the rear part of the saddle. Theopeningland Closing lines thus cross each .other on the inner sideof the arm and permits ofso connecting them with the opposite orl uninjured shoulder and arm..that the fingers maybe opened and closed-by a body motion which will not be conspicuous "or embarrassing. The means whereby this `is accomplished comprise a bracelet l`or arm band 56 v'which is secu-red around the arm, in

this instance the left arm, adjacent to the left" shoulder, and front and rear draw 'bands orlines` 57, 58 which are connected at their lett hand ends with the front and rear sides, respectively, of the arm band or bracelet.

while their right hand ends are connected respectively with the upper ends of the-1` mai-n opening `and closing lines. It follows from this construction that when the chest is dra-wn in and the left, shoulder and arm arethrown forward, a pulling effect is pro-` duced on the closing lines and a relaxation.'

on the opening lines which causes thefingers to be closed while uponV throwing thev chest lforward andthe left shoulder and arm bacle ward, a pulling effect will be produced on the Yopening Alines vand a relaxation on the closing line-s, whereby the `fingers will be j opened or unfolded.

The dra-w bands 57, 58- are `held inplace yadjacent to thev armpit of the wearer by loops 92,93, arranged `on the adjacentparts of the retaining bandsv or--straps which toget-her with the saddle form the harness for operating the movable parts of the fingers and thumb of the artificial hand.

Themechanism for closing or folding and opening or unfolding the thumb is constructed as follows:

59 represents alongitudinal shifting bar which is pivotally `connected with the thumb by a pin 60 beyond the pin 2S and outwardly therefrom, while the outer end of this bar is pivoted on the palm by a pin 6l. adjacent n to the vpin Q6 and inwardly therefrom. Upon swinging4 the inner section of the thumb inwardly, the bar 59 causes the outer section'thereof to turnoutwardly, and vice versa, thereby causing the thumb sections to adapt themselves to l'the position of these partsl in imitation of the thumb of a natural hand; when the-same is relaxed and when the samegrasps anything f 62r represents al rotaia7 cam pivoted by @11:63 on the palm and lhaving a cam flange 62a which` engages with a notch in the inner end of a linlt'ffii similar to the connection between the cams and links whichv operate the fingers. The outergend of the linltfi is Iconnected by a pivot pin 65 with the inner thumb section adjacentto the inner side vof the pivotal connection between the latter and the-palm, as shown in Fig. Y. The inner end of the link 64`V is controlled by' a guidewayA 66 on the palm, so. as .tofcause the.

.same to movet'owardpand' from the axis of thecam .62., 67 represents a connected with the thumb cam 62 se as to turn therewith. To this thumb drum are secured opening and closing branch lines 68, 69 which pass in opposite directions around this drum and are connected respectively with the opening and closing branch lines 43, 44. of the adjacent linger operating mech-- anism. Upon pulling on the main closing line 5l the thumb operating cam is turned in the direction for swinging the inner thumb section inwardly and upon pulling on the main opening line L19 this cam is turned in the direction for swinging the inner thumb section outwardly.

The pivotal connection between the wrist and the forearm is preferably constructed as follows:

70' represents a forwardly tapering or conical centering extension of tubular form arranged on the front end of the forearm and forming a part thereof and engaging with a correspondingly shaped internal bearing or socket 7l at the rear end kof the wrist. A ball bearing is formed betweenthe inner or rear end of the wrist and the forearm by an inner annular row of balls 72 arranged between an outer ball race 73 arranged on the forearm and an inner ball race e formed on the wrist, and an outer row of balls 75 arranged between an outerv ball race 76 formed on the wrist and a ball race 77 formed on a sleeve 'wliich is secured to the adjacent part of the forearm.

ll/leans are provided for turning the wrist about its longitudinal axis relatively to the forearm and also swinging the palm laterally about a transverse axis relatively to the wrist, which means in their preferred form are constructed as follows:

79 represents an adjusting bar which is connected at its front end by a swivel joint SO with the palm on the inner side thereof adjacent to its fulcrum and is guided with 'its front part in a loop 81 on the adjacent part of the wrist. The rear part of the adjusting har is slidable lengthwise on a guide lever 82 which is channel shaped in cross section to receive the adjusting bar and which is pivoted by ay pin 83 on lugs 84e of the wrist so that this lever can rock on said wrist but is compelled to turn bodily with the same relatively to the forearm. By sliding the bar lengthwise Aon the adjusting levern the palm can be tilted more or less relatively to the wrist, the normal position of the wrist being shown in Fig. 6, and the. tilted position by full lines in Fig. 8. The palm is locked in a more or less tilted position by a plurality of locking or adjusting teeth 85 arranged on the rear end of the adjusting bar and adapted to engage with a locking or adjust-ing pin 86 arranged transversely on the adjusting lever, as best shown in Fig. 8. On its front arm the adjusting lever is provided with a locking or `cam pivotally mounted on said adjusting pin 87 which passes' through an opening 88 in the wrist and is adapted to engage with one or another of a pluralityy of rlocking openings 89 arranged ina circumferential row on the conical extension of the wrist, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. Upon pressing the rear arm of the adjusting lever inwardly'the locking pin 87 on its front arm is disengaged from an opening 89 rin the wrist extension, so that now the wrist and the parts mounted thereon maybe turned about the axis of the pivotal connection bef tween the wrist `and the forearm, and when these parts have reached the desired position the pressure upon thefrear arm of the adjusting lever is released,'thereby permitting the pin 87 to enter theadjacent opening 85) and hold the parts `in this position. The a-djustment of the palm relatively to the wrist and 'the adjustment of the wrist relatively` 'to the forearm is preferably effected by one operation, this 'being` accomplished by pro ifiding the rear endof the adjusting bar 79 with a. handle or operating member 90 which may either be grasped by the good hand of` the wearer oi' ythe same may be engaged with a relatively stationary part such as theside of the body, as shown in Fig. l, foroperating the palm and wrist adjusting mechan sm. 1n order to provide a yielding enf gagement with the handle 90 the outer side of the same is constructed in the form of an elastic strap 91 of rubber or similar material and spans the ends of this handle., whereby a soft and non-slipping contact with the body is produced which will avoid chafing or wearing of the clothes as well as avoid injury to the hand which manipulates the The adjusting bar 79 is preferably made of resilient material `such as spring steel, whereby the same operates to yieldingly hold the adjusting lever in its interlocked position relatively to the forearm and the adjusting bar is also held in its interlocked position relatively to the adjusting lever. i

We claim as our invention:

ln An artificial limb comprising'a palm, a linger pivoted on the palm, and means for actuating said finger comprising a rotary Y cam pivotally mounted on said palm, and a vlink pivotally connected with said nger and operatively engaged by said cam.

2. An artificial limb comprising a palm, a linger pivoted on the palm, and means for actuating said finger' comprising a rotary palm, a link pivotally connected with said finger and operatively engaged by said cam, and means on said palm for guiding said link adjacent to its point of engagement with said cam.

3. An artificial limb comprising a palm, a linger pivoted on the palm, and means for actuating said finger comprising a rotary cam mounted o n said palm and having a cam flange, a link pivotally connected at one end with said linger and provided at yits other end with a. notch whichreceives operating said iinO'er actuating means and b b b 3 two operating lines connected with said drum and passing in opposite `directions around the saine. i

5. An artificial limb comp-rising a palm,

a finger pivoted on said palm, and means 'foi actuating said finger comprising a rotaiy drum, two operating lines connected with said drum andpassing in opposite directions around the same, and means mounted on the body of a person for pulling either of said lines.

6. An artificial limb, comprising 'a palm, a finger pivoted on said palm, means for actuating said finger, a rotary drum for operating said linger actuating means, .two operating lines connected with said drum and passing in opposite directions around the same, means mounted on the body yof a person for pulling one or the other of said lines and relaxing one or the other of said lines,

comprising front and rear draw bands adapted to be arranged on the front and rear sides of the body of a person', intermediate lines connecting said draw bands with said operating lines, guides for said intermediate lines arranged on the front and rear sides of the body of the person adjacent to the shoulder of the arm which has the artificial limb, and means for connecting the opposite ends of said draw bandsl with the opposite arm of the person for actuating said bands and lines upon moving the. body and that arm to which the draw bands are connected either forwardly or backwardly relatively to each other.

7. An artificial limb, comprising a palm, a linger pivoted on said palm, means for actuating said finger, a rotary drum for operating said linger actuating means, two op erating lines connected with said drum and passing in opposite directions around the same, and means mounted on the body of a person for Apulling either one or the other of said lines and relaxing one or `the other of said lines, comprising front and rear draw bands adapted to be arranged on the front and rear sides of the body of a person, intermediate lines connecting said draw bands with said operating lines, guides' for said intermediate lines arranged on the front and rear sides of the body of the person adj acentl to the shoulder of the arm lwhich has the artificial limb, and a bracelet lconnected with the opposite endsof said draw bands and adapted to embrace the opposite arm ofthe per-son. v A v A 8. An artificial limb, comprising a palm, a finger -pivoted o-n said palm, means for ac tuating said finger, arot-ary drumv forfoperating `said finger actuating means, two o perating linesconnected with said drum and passing in opposite directions around the same, a-nd means mounted on the body kof a aerson for. ulflinfry one or the other of said lines'and relaxing one `or the other of said lines, comprising front and rear dra-w bands adapted to be arranged on .the front and .rear

sides `ofthe body `of avvpersoii, intermediate lines connecting said draw bands with said A 'operating' lines,guides for said intermediate lines arranged onthe front and rearsides of thebody of the personadj acentto the shoulder of the arm which has'the artificial limb,*and means `for connecting the oppositev ends of said draw bands with the opposite arm ofv the person for actuating said bands andlines upon moving the body and that arm to which the d-rawv .bands are connected `either `for.-

wardly or backwardly relatively to ,each` other, said intermediate' iines being crossed relatively to each other between said guides and said drum. i i

9. An artificiallimb comprising a palm, a plurality offingers pivotedon said palm,

andym'eans' for actuating said fingers com#L prising a" main line,fa plurality of branch lines yeach operatively connected with-one of said fingers, andan equa-lizing device interposed between said branch. lines and said main line for operating the fingers simultaneously, said vequali'z'ingl means permitting one or more fingers to come to a standstill While the'others continue-their closing movement under a pullvonfvthe saidmainl line.

10. An'artificial limbcomprising a palm,A

a .plurality of fingers pivoted on said'palm,

and means for actuating said fingers com-` prising a plurality ofbranchlilies eachop- `eratively connected with one of said, fingers,V

and the rear endsof said branch lines be-l ing lconnected in pairs .to form lbightsv orV loops, an equalizing line doubled to, form-a bight and having gnide'rollers at its ends which engage with the bights of said branch llO iis

lines, and a main line hav-ing a vguide rollenV engaging with the big'ht of said 'equalizing line.l A

1l. An artificial lim-b comprising `a fore-` arm, a wrist, anda rotary connection between said forearm and` palm' vcomprising annular ball racesformed on theinner and oute'rsides of the wrist, an annular Vball' race arranged' on the forearm, asleeve `secured to theouter side'of the forearm and-'provided with an inner ball race, and vrows of balls interposed between the ball races ongsaid wrist vand -the ball races onsaidv forearm and sleeve; f i I 12v. An artificial limb comprising a forearm, a wrist, a ball bearing arranged between said forearm and wrist, and a conical centering tube arranged on said forearm and engaging with a correspondingly shaped bearing on the interior of said wrist..

13. An artificial limb comprising a forearm, a wrist connected by a longitudinal pivot with said forearm, a palm connected by a transverse pivot with said wrist, means for turning the wrist relatively to said forearm, and means mounted on said first named means for turning said palm relatively to said wrist.

14. An artificial limb comprising a' forearm, a Wrist connected by a longitudinal pivot with said forearm, a palm connected by a transverse pivot with said wrist, and a longitudinally movable shifting bar guided on said wrist and pivotally connected at its front endwitli said palm while its rear end is provided with a handle.

15. An artificial limb comprising a forearm, a wrist connected by a longitudinal pivot with said forearm, a palm connected by a transverse pivot with saidV wrist, a longitudinally movable shifting bar guided on said wrist and pivotally connected at its front end with said palm while its rear end is provided with a handle, a guide for said shifting bar mounted on said wrist and provided with an adjusting pin, anda longitudinal row of adjusting teeth arranged on said `shifting `bar and adapted to engage with said locking pin.

16. An artificial limb comprising a forearm, a wrist connected by a longitudinal pivot with said forearm, a palm connecter by a transverse pivot with said wrist, a longitudinally movable shifting bar guided on said wrist and pivotally connected at its front end with said palm while its iear end is provided with a handle, a guide for said shifting bar mounted on said wrist and' providedwith an adjusting pin, and a longitudinal row of adjusting teeth arranged on said shifting bar and adapted to engage with said locking pin,- said guide being pivoted on said wrist to swing transversely and provided with an adjusting pin, and said forearm being provided with an extension having a circumferential row of openings, one or another of which is adapted to be engaged by the adjusting pin of said guide.

17. An artificial limb comprising a forearm, a wrist connected by a longitudinal pivot with said forearm, a palm connected by a transverse pivot with said wrist, a longitudinally movable shifting bar guided on said wrist and pivotally connected at its front end with said palm while its rear end is provided with a handle, a guide for said shifting bar mounted on said wrist and provided with an adjusting pin, and a longitudinal row of adjusting teeth arranged on said shifting bar and adapted to engage with said locking pin, said shifting bar be` ing constructed of resilient metal and opera gitudinally movable shifting bar guided on-` said wrist and pivotally connected at its front end with said palm while its rear end is provided with a handle, a guide for said shifting bar mounted on said wrist and proe vided with an adjusting pin, and a longitudi-L nal row of adjustingteetharranged on said shifting bar and adapted lto engage with said locking pin, said lguide being pivoted on said wrist to swing transversely and provided with an adjusting pin, and said forearm being provided with an extension having a circumferential row of openings one or another of which is adapted to be engaged by the adjusting pin of said guide, said shifting bar being constructed of resilient lmetal and operating to yieldiiiglyT hold the teeth thereon in enga-gement with said pin on said guide and also yieldingly holding said pin of 'the guide in engagement with the openings of said forearm.

19. en artificial limb comprising a palm, a plurality of lingers radiating on different lines from said palm and each turning about aii airis which is out of line from the axes of the other fingers, and a single pin pivotally connecting the several fingers with said palm and consisting of a plurality of sections whicli are arranged on different lines and each of which pivotally connects one of said fingers with the palm, said pin beingr provided with notches between adjacent sec tions which permit of bending each section relatively to another.

a0. [in artificial iimb comprising a palm, a plurality of fingers radiating on diderent lines from said palm, and each. turning' about an airis which is out of line from the axes of the other iingers, means for actu? ating said fingers comprising a plurality of cams each of which is operatively connected with one of said lingers, and a single pin pivotally connecting the plurality of cams with said palm and consisting of a plurality of sections which are arranged on differentl lines and each of which pivotally connects one of saitL cams with said palm, said pin being provided witli notches between ad-` jacent sections which permit of bending each section relatively to another.

ln testimony whereof we afiizr our signatures.

ALBERTO PECORELLA.y VlNCENT PATRICOLO. FREDERCK H. APEL. 

